The Art of Timeless Luxury: Crafting Accessories with Purpose
In a world increasingly captivated by fast fashion and fleeting trends, the allure of sustainable luxury shines brightly with Chandra Keyser . Inspired by the dynamic energy of New York City and the serene beauty of the Italian countryside, a visionary designer is blending these two contrasting cultures to create luxury accessories that embody elegance, craftsmanship, and a deep commitment to the environment.
A Philosophy Rooted in Beauty and Presence
The designer believes that the essence of beauty lies in appreciating both the calm and chaotic elements of our surroundings. This philosophy informs every aspect of their work, from the initial spark of inspiration to the meticulous creation of each accessory. “When we pause and appreciate our surroundings, we can channel energy into creating the unexpected and feel fulfilled doing something we love—like designing luxury accessories,” they note.
The accessories are handcrafted in Tuscany by master artisans whose dedication to their craft is evident in every piece. The factory, a second-generation, family-owned enterprise, has championed sustainable practices and a zero-waste philosophy since 1960. This unwavering commitment to quality and longevity is at the heart of their pursuit.
Crafting with Intention: The Journey from Inspiration to Creation
The process of crafting these luxury accessories is a blend of artistry, tradition, and careful planning. It typically begins with months of observation and research, leading to the “aha idea” that fuels innovation. Upon sketching the initial designs with the time-honored method of pencil and paper, the designer begins the journey of transformation. The choice of manufacturer is crucial, especially in an era when the number of family-owned factories dedicated to handcrafted leather goods in Italy has dwindled from 300 to less than 20%.
Next comes pattern making, where traditional techniques are employed to create the blueprints for the accessories. The first prototype is crafted with Salpa, a soft, sustainable non-leather material, adhering to the principles of quality and traditional craftsmanship. The selection of premium leather is another pivotal step. The designer sources textures and colors from renowned tanneries, such as the prominent Santa Croce near Pisa. This meticulous attention to detail extends down to the choice of zippers, handles, and thread colors—every decision contributes to a harmonious, aesthetically pleasing final product.
Once all elements are in place, production begins. The intricacies of sewing, finishing, and quality checks ensure that each handbag is not just a functional item, but a work of art. Each bag is packaged with care, utilizing recycled materials, embodying the brand’s no-waste ethos.
The Complex Paths of Delivery and Responsibility
Navigating the complexities of importing luxury goods into the USA requires precision and coordination. It involves communication between multiple stakeholders, ensuring that each product, once crafted, arrives at its destination flawlessly. By opting for land and water transportation, the brand https://chandrakeyser.com/ minimizes its carbon footprint while ensuring that each step of the process aligns with its eco-friendly values.
As the brand looks towards the future, it remains steadfast in its mission to yield benefits for the economy, society, and the environment, see more here: https://chandrakeyser.com/pages/sustainability
IN CONVERSATION WITH CHANDRA KEYSER
Can you elaborate on how the energetic atmosphere of New York City and the serene ambiance of the Italian countryside have influenced your design aesthetic and approach?
The contrast of the two different landscapes allows me as an artist to balance my energy. When I’m in Italy by the water or in the countryside, I’m in design mode. There are less distractions, my creative aesthetic is simple and streamlined, which is reflective of Italian ways — clean design and quality over quantity. When I’m in NYC, I automatically shift into business mode from the vibrant energy. There is an inherent ambitious pulse that surrounds the city. No matter the industry you are apart of, most want to do their best. The energy of NYC is very empowering. Allowing individuals to quickly elevate whatever project they are focused on.
Yet with most things, moderation is key. And why I escape to Italy to bathe in the calm and routine atmosphere to counterbalance the always on NYC lifestyle.
How do you incorporate the values of seeking beauty in nature and appreciating the present moment into your luxury accessories’ designs?
Nature surrounds us always, yet we can easily forget, because the complexities of life can at times become overwhelming. As an artist, sometimes I feel uninspired. Yet, when I simply look at the ocean or the stars, and realize the abundance of nature and its awe, I am easily influenced and inspired. I like to look at the details and shapes in nature. In these moments, I recognize the infinity of beauty and design possibilities. And enjoy designing ‘things’ like luxury accessories, with longevity, similar to nature. I believe, when something is designed with good intentions and reflective of nature’s beauty, it will last a long time.
Could you share some insights into the unique qualities of the materials you use and the meticulous detail involved in the handcrafting process by master artisans in Tuscany?
For CHANDRA KEYSER brand, ‘Craft and quality for longevity is the pursuit’. This is the benchmark we use when choosing who to work with and the materials for our goods. I spent two years researching and visiting factories to find an independent Italian, family-owned factory. And visited several tanneries to find the finest quality materials. As many know, there is somewhat of a crisis in Italy and many factories are closing as the demand and appreciation for handcrafted goods is dwindling. However, I believe this actually makes the art of handcrafted accessories even more luxurious, as there are fewer factories and master Italian artisans in Italy who still use their head, heart and hands to do this exceptional quality work.
For our brand, it’s not just about using the most expensive or newest materials, it’s about choosing a family and materials that align with our mission of creating simple luxuries by hand, with patience, meticulous details, no waste approach, without sacrificing quality.
Our craftsmen and craftswomen are experts in the art of handbag making. They are able to create a piece from A-Z. Starting with pattern making, prototypes from salpa, to cutting material by hand, sewing, painting and adding the hardware.
Your family-owned factory has been practicing sustainable, zero-waste methods since 1960. How do these ethical practices align with your brand’s values and long-term vision?
Our long term vision is to adapt to the changing times while staying authentic to our values of no-waste, quality over quantity and prioritization of the environment. Italians are proud of their zero waste, sustainable and up-cycle practices. And so are we. Our master-craftsman understands and aligns with our values, with almost 50 years of experience, we are thrilled to work with a rare gem in Italy. While technology will improve many aspects of our business, we are committed to our core values, as is the factory.
What inspired the commitment to creating accessories that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also durable for longevity?
Inspiration to create accessories came from many experiences, over many years. My family upbringing, my educational background in art history, typography, graphic design, my love of shopping, travel and personal styling. Also working on Wall Street, at the New York Stock Exchange, I was exposed to many cultures, new businesses and entrepreneurial stories. And after many trips to Italy, I kept returning to visit the many centuries old architecture. I understood quality stands the test of time. These personal and global experiences combined, peaked my curiosity to find and do something I love, and do it with longevity in mind.
And why I decided to take a risk and leave my job in NYC to study handbag making in Italy. From day one at school in Firenze, I was completely obsessed, learning to sew, make patterns and felt addicted to the entire art of leather bag making. I wanted to understand the entire process to produce high quality accessories that are functional, elegant, yet also with integrity for longevity — Accessories to use every day, to take on holiday, the perfect bag to dress up a look and something special to pass on to the next generations.
SHOP CHANDRA KEYSER HERE: https://chandrakeyser.com/
In what ways do you believe that beauty and confidence are intertwined with the accessories people choose to adorn themselves with?
I think when we ‘believe in ourselves’, we can be our ‘authentic self’ and this is often expressed through our personal style. When someone invests in themselves through fashion choices, their inner confidence exudes as natural beauty. There is an indescribable essence one displays, when they carry a special handbag they love or wear a stylized outfit. They are telling a story without words, rather with thoughtfully chosen accessories.
As your business grows, how do you ensure that your expansion efforts maintain a balance between commercial success and sustainable practices for the benefit of all stakeholders?
We make decisions based on the benefits and burdens it will have on humanity, and its affect on the environment. Sustainability is still a new and undefined term in the industry. However, becoming knowledgeable, trying new materials, and improving standard practices, allows a brand and business to experiment, evolve, find the right balance of continuous steady growth and sustainability, for the benefit of all.
Can you provide examples of how your brand consciously contributes to preserving the economy, society, and environment as part of your overall mission?
As a new brand, using traditional practices yet with a modern mindset, the economy, society and environment are all top of mind. And why we chose to focus on a model that supports a circular economy. As much as possible, we design consciously, recycle, create goods with local artisans supporting local economies and give back to the environment too.
An example of our full circle model is, our La Borsa da Vino. The vegan leather wine bag, is made from apples that are harvested in northern Italy, to produce apple juice, then 100% of the apple waste is transported to Florence, dehydrated and transformed into a new natural material that looks and feels like leather, yet is still exceptional quality material. La Borsa da Vino is meant to be gifted and reused. And with every wine bag we create, we plant trees with the Arbor Day Foundation, all part of our circularity 360 degree approach.
SHOP CHANDRA KEYSER HERE: https://chandrakeyser.com/
How do you see the concept of “Craft and Quality for Longevity” reflected in the designs and overall ethos of your brand?
I always think of accessories like friends, you can have many friends with many different personalities and qualities, it’s the loyal friends, that are invaluable. CHANDRA KEYSER accessories are the loyal friends you can count on to offer quality, integrity and bring joy for a long time.Wearing shoes from Zara and carrying a CHANDRA KEYSER bag is perfectly fine. There are no rules in fashion. Everything is a personal choice. Yet, we do our part to consciously design timeless styles, with a minimalist logo branded within and use sustainable practices and high quality materials to help balance the material world and the environment. While fast fashion is fun and very American, balancing this with sustainable luxury Italian crafted goods, helps balance and benefits all, for a lifetime and beyond.
Looking ahead, what excites you the most about the future of your brand and the impact you aspire to make within the luxury accessories industry?
I am most excited about ‘change’. I think it is important to embrace change, adapt and find ways to make things better. Change is one thing that is guaranteed and while it is not always easy, I believe those who can evolve with constant change, yet also stick to their mission and core values will be able to sustain the difficulties of change, and ultimately provide their customers with goods that are relevant, of quality and timeless.
As a young brand, we have experienced incredible change, in every aspect of our business. It would require an entire interview to get into the details. Yet, let’s just say “change” has become our strength and motivator to always strive to do better — as an artist, business, brand and our offering of goods. The lessons from significant change in a short time, has given us confidence to take more risks and is becoming our truest path of success.
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